Properties have been destroyed by fire at Sawmill Abaletu, Saki Road, in the Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The early morning fire outbreak, which occurred on Monday, June 23, 2025, left shop owners counting their losses after three shops were burnt in the incident. The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the situation in Ibadan on Thursday, saying there were no injuries or deaths.
According to Akinwande, the emergency was reported around 3:54 a.m., and firefighters were quickly mobilized to the location. The fire crew, under the leadership of Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) Azeez, arrived at the scene to find three shops already in flames.
“The fire incident was reported at exactly 03:54 hrs on Monday, June 23, 2025. Immediately the address was received, the firemen, led by ACFS Azeez, swiftly deployed to the scene of the incident and on arrival, we met three shops already engulfed by fire,” Akinwande explained.
He noted that the response of the firefighters helped stop the fire from spreading to other buildings in the area. Seven shops near the affected ones were saved, along with other nearby properties.
“The firemen quickly swung into action, and we were able to curtail it from spreading to other shops. Only three shops were affected, and the Fire Service was able to save the remaining seven shops and other nearby properties,” he said.
The cause of the fire was linked to a phone technician who reportedly left a piece of equipment plugged in after closing for the day. The device overheated and eventually caught fire, sparking the blaze.
“The fire was a result of the nonchalant attitude of a phone repairer who failed to switch off and unplug one of his equipment after closing work in the evening, and it ignited nearby combustibles,” Akinwande stated.
Residents in the area woke up to thick smoke and tried to help before emergency teams arrived. Some local business owners expressed relief that no lives were lost but were devastated by the loss of goods and property.
One eyewitness mentioned that the fire might have been worse if the fire service had arrived even a few minutes later.
